Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Israeli settlement sanctions backed by Arab, Muslim states
Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Muslim countries welcomed Britain's decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory and urged other countries to take similar steps.
The ministers from Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt issued the statement on Wednesday. They also welcomed plans by other Western countries to restrict trade with Israeli settlements.
Britain, France and Canada on Tuesday joined nine other European countries in a joint statement saying they planned to introduce or support restrictions on trade with Israeli settlements.
The measures were announced in response to Israel's West Bank settlements policy and reports of increasing settler attacks against Palestinians. A UK minister accused Israel of turning a blind eye to what the minister called the “ethnic cleansing” of Palestinians there.
Israel reacted by announcing immediate counter-measures targeting Britain.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian leader Mark Carney later said in a joint declaration that the settlements “pose a direct and urgent threat” to a two-state solution.
More than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements in the West Bank among about three million Palestinians.
Update
The statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt.
The source says the Western measures prompted Israel to unveil immediate counter-measures targeting Britain.
A UK minister accused Israel of turning a blind eye to what the minister called the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the West Bank.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 16:02:38 UTC.
Update
Foreign ministers from eight Arab and Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan, welcomed the UK decision to ban imports from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
The ministers urged other countries to take similar steps.
The statement also welcomed other Western countries' plans to restrict trade with Israeli settlements.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 15:48:59 UTC.
Update
Macron, Burnham and Carney said their countries would take steps to ban imports from settlements.
They said their countries would enforce targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate or profit from them.
They said their countries would co-chair a UN General Assembly meeting later this month on peace efforts.
The item gives the E1 plan figure of 1,200 housing units.
Source note: AFP news report published on 8 September 2026 at 16:45:15 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source describes some Western measures as planned or supported restrictions, so not all measures may have taken effect.
Source
AFP news report published on .